Pipe-rotating attachment for rotaries



Feb. 16 1926. 1,573,281

- H. F. SMITH PIPE ROTATING ATTACHMENT FOR ROTARIES Filed March 12, 1923 2 Sheets-$heet 1 7 s INVEIVTOR.

A TTORNEYd H. F. SMITH PIPE ROTATING ATTACHMENT FOR ROTARIES Feb. 16 1926.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12. 1923 A TTORNEYV m m w m z T 0 M 1 4. 8 w 3 m m, m i 0- a v J L L .0: w ill I n .u. H r lllll llwf do Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

PATENT HOWARD 1?. SMITH, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

PIPE-ROTATING ATTACHMENT FOR ROTARIES.

Application filed March 12, 1523. Serial No. 624,599.

To all 10720222 it may concern:

[Be it known that I, HOWARD F. SMITH, citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Rotating Attachments for Rotaries, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a pipe rotating attachment for rotaries. 1 i I One object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character described embodying the combination with a tong for gripping the pipe to be turned an improved type of back up post designed to bermounted upon a rotary through which the back up post is revolved, and the tong thereby rotated to turnpipe to which the tong is applied.

j Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of back up post which may be easily released from the tong to permit the release of the latter from the ipe.

A still further feature of the invention resides in'the provision of a combined apparatus including a back up post and a pipe rotating tong, and means whereby the latter is sustained in position relative to the former so that the tong will be sustained in position above the rotary table for convenient application of, or release from the pipe to be turnech iVith the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation, and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 shows a plan view of the tong as applied to the pipe.

Figure 2 shows an edge view thereof.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the back up post.

Figure 4 shows a plan view thereof.

Figure 5 shows a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3. Figure 6 shows a transverse sectional view. taken on the line 6-43 of Figure a and,

Figure? shows a fragmentary side view of the back up post and the tong sustaining means carried thereby.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the pipe to be rotated. The numeral, 2 designates the tong handle to one end oi? which the arcuate aw 3 is pivoted at one end. To the other end of this jaw there is pivoted the arcuate jaw l, and to the free end of this last mentioned jaw there is pivoted a U-shaped latch 5 which is designed to be engaged over lhe outwardly turned lug ti oi the inner end of the handle iVhen the latch is engaged and pressure applied to the handle in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 the combined action of the handle on the jaw 3, and the lug 6 on the jaw through the latch 5, will cause said jaws to grip pipe and turn the pipe and the jaws are provided with pine engaging teeth 7 which insure the engagement of the jaws with the pipe. The handle 2, when the tong is in action will stand in substantially a tangential position relative to the pipe 1. and in this position when pressure is applied to said handle it will operate to exert a pull, through the lug (i and the link 5 or. the jaw l and at the same time will force the j aw 3, to which it is pivoted inwardly toward said pipe so as to accomplish the cli'ective grip 'iing ot the pipe by said jaws. The numeral 8 the 'nates a lHU'iI up post whose lower end 9 is reduced and litted into a suitable socket provided in the top 01 the rotary table. Rotary tables for drilling wells by the well known rotary process are in common use and their construction is well known to those skilled in the art of well drilling, and at the present time these rotary tables are commonly provided with a socket to receive the back up post. Near its upper end the post 8 is provided with a table 10 preferably circular in form and arranged eccentric with respect to the post and rotatably mounted 011 the upper end of said post and resting on said table there is an eccentric 11 preferably circular in form which has a surrounding band 12 seated in a counter sunk groove in the periphery of the eccentric. Said band has the spaced lugs 13, 13 provided to embrace the ear 2 carried by the tong handle 2 and having the aligned oblong slots let to receive the pin 15 carried by the ear 2, and through which the said handle is connected to the eccentric 11, said slots 1d permitting a certain freedom of movement between these connecting parts. Fastened to the eccentric 11 there is a suitable handle 16 by means of which the eccentric may be rotated into coinciding position with the table 10 or into formed with a 'com 'iaratively wide base 20' to which there is secured a tong support 2i which may or may not be flexible as desiret and to the upper end oi this support 21 the tong is attached and by it the tone; is supported in position above the rotary table so as to be in position for easy ei'igage nent with, or release from, the pipe. 7

As before stated the pipe is rotated in the process 0t screwing together and unscrewing joints thereof in melting up or breaking up the drill stem by the rotary table through said back up post, and when in operation the eccentric 11 is turned into eccentric po sition relative to the table 10 as illustrated in Figures 3 and Great force is required in screwing together and unscrewing the joints ot pipe, and when some types of back up posts are used it is very hard to release the tong therefrom on account of the pres; sure of the post against the tong. lVhenthe type or" back up post herein described is used and it is desired to release it from the tonehandle the handle 16 may be grasped and turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure i, and this will. operate to swing the eccentric back toward coinciding position with the table 10 and will operate to releaseits pressure against the tong handle permitting the release of the latch 5 and the consequent release of the tong from the pipe 1. lVhen the tons: has been released from the pipe the handle 16 may then be inimipulated in theopposite direction until the stud 18 contacts against the stop 19 and may then be rotated further thus rotating the entire post 8 in the rotary table socket and the tong will thus be bodily swung around away from the pipe and out of the way so as not to interfere with the other drilling process until it is desired to again use said tong. 7

What I claim is 1. In combination a tong, a back up post, a support through which the tong is sup ported in relation to the back up post, an

carried by the eccentric and post respectively through which the post is rotated with the eccentric when the latter is further rotated through said means.

3. In a device of the character described, a back up post, a table carried thereby, an eccentric rotatably mounted on 'said'post and resting on said table, and means for to tatin said eccentric.

4. In combination a tong whose handle is provided with a lateral car, a back up post, a support connected to the back up post and the tong, and supporting the latter, an eccentric mounted on said post and connected to said ear, and means for rotatingthe eccentric.

5. In combination a tong a? back up post, a support connected to the back up post and supporting the tong, an eccentric mounted on said post, means connecting said eccentric to the tong handle, and means for rotating the eccentric. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this Specification.

hI-IOVVARD F SMITH. 

